3 entries found for cure.
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cure[1,noun] cure[2,verb] cure-all

Main Entry: ¹cure
Pronunciation: ky()r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English cure "care of souls," from early French cure (same meaning), from Latin cura "spiritual charge of souls," from earlier cura "care, healing" --related to ACCURATE, CURATE, CURIOUS, SECURE
1 a : recovery or relief from a disease b : something that cures a disease : REMEDY c : a method or period of medical treatment
2 : something that corrects or heals a bad situation <a cure for unemployment>
Word History In Latin the noun cura had the general sense of "the care, concern, or attention given to something or someone." Often it referred to "medical care or healing." The Roman Christians, however, used the word chiefly in regard to "the care of souls," since that was one of their main concerns. The word passed into French as cure and then into English with this spiritual sense. The English noun curate, meaning "one who takes care of souls, a member of the clergy," developed from this sense. Later the medical senses of cure became more common. Latin cura was also the basis for the verb accurare, meaning "to take care of." This verb became the source of our word accurate, which at first meant "done with care."